Full-time MBA | Alex Kass

• Hometown
  Los Angeles, CA
• Undergraduate
  School: Emory University
  Major/Minor: Business Administration (Marketing, Real Estate, Film & Media Management)
• Previous Company
  E-commerce at goop
• Summer Internship
  Brand Management at Haleon
• Specializations at Stern
  Economics, Brand Management, Healthcare
• Student Clubs
  Graduate Marketing Association, Co-President and AVP of Knowledge Management
  Stern Healthcare Association, AVP of Community  
  OutClass
  Jewish Students Association
  Stern Adventures

Stern was undoubtedly my top choice before I had even applied, but my interviewer and I spoke at length about our favorite books and Harry Potter; I was at ease, genuinely enjoying our chat. It was seamless to connect with her and see myself as part of the Class of 2025.

I decided to leave goop early in the summer but wanted to be intentional with my free time. I became a dog walker on Rover, read as much as I could, successfully operated an Airbnb, tried to see a loved one every day, and probably spent 100+ hours playing video games. Free time is limited, so I may as well make the most of it; I tried not to sweat the prep beyond working on myself and soaked in each moment.

Simon Bowmaker's Firms & Markets class has had the greatest impact on me. Prof. Bowmaker makes economics engaging and fun, and I enjoyed diving into and thinking about the material. I learned so much during every session. And that accent…

Be true to yourself, practice being easygoing and resilient, learn/absorb as much as you can, and go to as many events that interest you as possible (keep a watchful eye on 12Twenty and CampusGroups). You may have come into the program set on one career path, but now is your opportunity to discover new interests. Take advantage of it!

Figure out what is important to you as early as you can and prioritize it. Focus on your own path and not what others are doing around you. You will not have time for everything, as much as you will try to optimize, and that's okay! Balance is key—don't feel like you need to go to, and do, everything.

How welcoming and genuine the community is, and how easy it is to try new things and discover new passions. Meeting some of my very best friends during LAUNCH was also a lovely surprise.

Graduate Marketing Association! Being a part of GMA's board and now Co-President has been a tremendously rewarding experience, and I am beyond grateful for the opportunities I've been given because of it. While I believe everything happens for a reason, you never know where your professional relationships will take you. Attending just one marketing event cemented my interest in Brand Management, and I've learned so much from this community already.

Welcoming, down-to-earth, and intelligent. Stern is my chosen family. It truly delivers on the EQ + IQ promise, and I've built so many fulfilling lifelong relationships here.

NYC is the best city in the world for an MBA student, and being in the Greenwich Village is key. It is incredibly convenient to set up a coffee chat, head to a Stern Social near campus, or attend a networking event with short notice, and there are endless streets, bars, restaurants, parks, etc to explore. Plus, it always feels safe, and you can get anywhere in the city quickly with the BDFM/ACE/NQRW/1 trains nearby.

I had only worked at one company full-time before coming to Stern and spent most of my time there in a fairly specialized Digital Marketing role, so I had a lot to learn about recruitment. The IGNITE programming from Careers and optional workshops were especially valuable for honing and practicing my pitch, crafting my STAR stories for every possible situation, and developing my career story. Running GMA's Knowledge Management "Mock Madness" boot camp helped prepare me the most, but even just having a group of friends willing to help each other practice and support one another through the inevitable ups and downs of the process made all the difference.